Speedway: Injury crisis in KBS camp

Kevin Little and Jamie Robertson both need more time to recover from last Sunday's injuries in the home win over the Sheffield Tigers so the Newcastle KBS Diamonds are taking a patched-up team to this evening's return match against the reigning Premier League champions.

Kevin Little and Jamie Robertson both need more time to recover from last Sunday's injuries in the home win over the Sheffield Tigers so the Newcastle KBS Diamonds are taking a patched-up team to this evening's return match against the reigning Premier League champions.

Newcastle's plans have also been hit by the lack of a suitable guest for their captain Little, forcing them to use rider replacement for his absence as they defend their seven point advantage from the victory against the Tigers at Brough Park.

Craig Branney gains a quick recall into the KBS Diamonds team in place of Robertson who still has a sore hip after his motorbike landed on top of him in a crash on Sunday.

Newcastle manager George English said: "We've approached several riders about covering for Kevin's foot injury but none of them were available. "We know it will be tough around the Owlerton track but at least Kenneth Bjerre is allowed one extra race under the rider replacement rule and Bjarne Pedersen can fit this match into his very hectic week."

It will be Pedersen's fifth meeting in six nights in a sequence that began with his Grand Prix action in Poland on Saturday, followed by his return to Newcastle on Sunday, a Swedish match on Tuesday, and a Danish fixture last night.

Add on tomorrow's Elite League duties for Poole at Oxford and it's just as well he had a day off on Monday!

Next Sunday's scheduled Premier League match against the Hull Vikings has been postponed until later in the season.